Broken Front Limb

[sjegtvig]

I'm sitting here in my yard watching a sweet gray squirrel who has a broken front limb -- He can't use it very well so it makes it difficult to eat. Any suggestions? He can't hold things up to chew on them. Almond slivers seem to work okay. He can run through the yard alright -- haven't seen him try to climb. Appears to be a compound fracture.

Looks like he needs things that he can pick up mostly with his mouth. Any food suggestions?

Thanks!

Shereen

[farrelli]

I'm sorry and surprised that no one responded to this. The bone is piercing the skin? I'd think that he requires vet care. Can you get a pic or video? Would you be able to capture him or even house him during his recovery? I'll see if we have anyone in the area to help.

[SammysMom]

I am in New Haven and might be able to get him to a vet if you can catch him and bring him part way. Can you get close enough that you might be able to take a good picture of the wound?

[sjegtvig]

I'm sorry -- I wrote that wrong. It's NOT a compound fracture. The bone isn't piercing the skin. I'll see about getting a video -- the injury is at the wrist. He climbs the fence and jumped to a tree. He looks good other than the injury. He just can't pick up big things. So we give him plenty of almond slivers.


I am in New Haven and might be able to get him to a vet if you can catch him and bring him part way. Can you get close enough that you might be able to take a good picture of the wound?

[sjegtvig]

He appears to be using his paw a little more today -- perhaps it is healing. I'll keep an eye on him.

[sjegtvig]

Also -- thanks, Sammy's Mom. I have a Have a Heart trap if necessary. I think he will probably be okay, but it's nice to know I can get any of these guys to help if they need it.

[CritterMom]

If you can just "work the refs" a little for him - make sure he has plenty of good food and clean water available, he will likely do the rest. If you remove his need to forage for food by providing it to him, he will come for the chow then go home and curl up in his bed. Rest helps heal and it also keeps him "off the streets" where a predator could get him because of the injury. They are VERY smart!

[sjegtvig]

They really are smart. We're new to squirrel appreciation. It started last summer when we put out a bird feeder and wound up being more captivated by the squirrels. I was already a rodent person -- I have gerbils.

We noticed that clean fresh water is important for them and we always keep various types of foods out. Our back yard is fully fenced. A dog couldn't get in. A cat could but there aren't many ferals here (there used to be, but I haven't seen any here in over a year) and raccoons are rare.

Both my husband and I figured out that this guy can pick up and eat the almonds, although we each saw him separately.